Manuel Joseph “Joe” Chacon

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Went to his Lord on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at the age of 94. He was born on December 15, 1918, in Pocatello, Idaho, to parents Joseph Urban and Alexandra (Gilbert) Chacon. He is survived by his wife, Cleatus Chacon of Roseburg; two children by his first wife, Esther Tyndall Chacon: Mary (Mrs. Jerry) Peterson of Bloomfield Hills; Michigan and Clark Chacon of Maui, Hawaii; four grandchildren: Elizabeth Peterson; Kathryn Peterson; Mark Peterson; and Janet Chacon; and three step-children: Nancy (Mrs. Jeff) Long; Jean-Marie (Mrs. Larry) Clark; and Jim Henry all from Roseburg. He was stationed in Cold Bay, Alaska at the outbreak of World War II, and participated in four combat missions against the Japanese. For the remainder of World War II, he served in the European theater of operations as a top-turret gunner on the U.S. Air Force B-24 bomber, and won numerous awards including the Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying cross (one oak leaf cluster), Air Medal (1 silver and 2 oak leaf clusters), European Theater (3 stars) and the Silver star. In May 1947, he was assigned to Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, as crew chief for Colonel Berndt Balchen, first man to fly over both the North and South poles. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1959 as a Chief Master Sergeant. Donations may be made in his name to Helping Hands, P. O. Box 19085, North Umpqua Highway, Glide, OR 97443. Arrangements are under the direction of Taylor’s Family Chapel.